Could you tile over the brick? I like the brick as is. If you leave the brick as is, get a black fireplace door. If you tile over the brick I would use a nickel door if it goes well with tile. If you paint the brick get a fireproof paint.

Sorry to go off topic...what colour are your living room walls? They look beautiful with the white trim.

I think no paint on the brick. It isn't overpowering. I always love seeing your pretty kitchen! I vote for a black surround too. Are your counters black? Seems like there is enough black in the kitchen to make that work.

Love that picture over your fireplace too. Such lovely rooms!

While I'm not adverse to painting brick, I really like yours in its original state.

It's not overpowering, like boopadaboo said, and adds a nice softness to the rest of your space. Painting it white, IMO, would make that wall too one-dimensional.

Lovely room.

Thanks so much guys!

OK, glad the brick isn't too hideous.....Maybe I'll leave it....The counters are brown e/t they do look dark....there isn't an ounce of black in the house, so while I'm not going to do black bc I just have a think about black, I'm getting the feeling that I should go dark?bronze? instead of nickel if I leave the fireplace bricks as is?

Leanne...the walls are Ben Moore Revere Pewter matte at half stregth! It's neither cool nor warm...it's just of like there...I strongly rec'd it!

I vote for the bronze -- dark will be rich and tie into your chair legs and ottoman legs, picture frame, even kitchen counters. It will also pick up the darker tones of the brick, which I would leave. Brick doesn't appear red but lighter and rather natural looking, and I think will go great with the soothing tones you've got in these rooms. The minute that shiny gold is gone (I am NOT a fan of brass anything!) it will be amazingly different, so whatever you choose is a winner! You may actually love the brick once it's got the dark doors. Really pretty rooms.

Definitely the dark bronze. I agree that the brick adds interest but then I do love red brick so I guess I'm biased. I think the bronze will tie in with all your other accessories. Beautiful rooms!

Agree with everyone else, leave the brick alone. There's just enough to add a touch of color and warmth. I think it makes the touches of rust/warmth in the painting really pop.

I'd go with the same finish as your lighting fixture over the kitchen table - oil rubbed bronze?

Such pretty, sublte, calm decorating. I love your style. Now I feel I need to redo my house!

The room is gorgeous. Leave the bricks alone, I think they're beautiful and natural. I am not a fan of painted brick. You can paint the doors antique bronze. Rustoleum makes a hammered antique bronze spray paint that's nice and dark. I think you'll like it. I used it on my chandelier and love the color. You know what's good about painting, if you don't like it you can do it over.

As a matter of fact, I'm looking at my black doors and think I'll do my FP doors in the antique bronze. I wonder why I never thought of that before?
I am wondering though if that paint is heat proof?

Your rooms are lovely.
Joann

Ahem -- simply a different voice here ..... LOL!

Consider painting the brick white -- and painting the doors to basic black. Look into bar-be-cue paints which can handle the heat factor.

Gorgeous home!! Really elegant -- and just lovely! :)

Jan

If you do leave the brick as it is I'd like to suggest some subtle touches such as pillows and perhaps small accessories to integrate that color into the remainder of the room. Otherwise it's confined to the painting and the fireplace. If you do paint the brick I'm afraid you'll lose the warmth of the color and the room will look too cool and gray. However, I'm a person who loves color so it all depends on one's inclinations. I'm really impressed with the elegance of your home. The art over the fireplace is so unique and beautiful, and a perfect fit for your decor. Toning down the color of the firescreen would be a very good idea since it doesn't seem to go with anything else in the rooms.

I would paint the brick flat black, and use an iron surround. I think it would look elegant with your lovely simple scheme, and provide a perfect frame for the fire itself. Here's how a similar treatment worked in our library fireplace.

Here is a link that might be useful:

Bronwyn!!! What a beautiful room!!! And great idea about painting the brick to black ......

Jan

You have a beautiful home, very relaxing feel to it.

If it were mine I would not paint the brick but instead paint or change out the fire box cover to black. If you really want to change the brick then I would paint it black and change out the firebox cover to brushed nickle to match the beautiful fan. Speaking of that beautiful fan, would you mind telling me where you bought it and the brand name? Thanks so much.

Thank you guys SO much! i totally appreciate all of the great advice!!!!

I'm surprised about all the black suggestions! I'm very narrow minded sometimes and am probably still not a fan of a black surround, but am getting the feeling that I should do dark (which will probably mean a very dark bronze)....I see so many amazing painted bricks online .... but am afraid of resale problems...I'm in the southeast and am finding that a lot of people like warmer, country, southern tones so painting it might hurt us....

You guys are the best! Thanks again!

Brutuses...thanks....the fan was under $150 I believe.. It's from Home Depot and is a Hunter Douglas...I'm really happy with it. I admit I have a few of them bc I loved the style. The bedroom one is on ALL the time and is very quiet and stable...I got them last year but believe they still have them online..

Thanks so much for the information on the fan. I need to go get one for my office. I think it is just what I've been looking for in that room. DH insists on a fan in the office so I relented and know this one will work with the other decor. Please post a photo of any changes you make to the fireplace.

I would leave the brick alone. I think it works well with the color of the floors, and brings in some warmth to a cool palette. It also pulls that rusty color out of the artwork above the mantel.

As for the surround, my inclination would be the bronze. I am not sure that I would like the nickel or chrome as well with the brick color.

I wonder if you would consider putting the two candlesticks together one side of the fireplace, rather than splitting them. I think they are very nice, but would have more impact as a pair. Then I would get some birch twigs and put in the vase, to mimic the branches in the art. If that fits, you could put that on the other side of the artwork, with the two candlesticks together on the opposite side. Otherwise, it could sit on the hearth on the side opposite where the candlesticks are on the mantel.

You have a lovely home.